Greece: Infectious Diseases Increased by 20.5 percent in 2017

Highlighting a disturbing trend, data published by the Greek Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) showed that infectious incidences of infectious diseases increased by 20.5 percent in 2017. In total, 5,967 were recorded in 2017 compared to 4,951 incidents in 2016.

Perhaps of greatest concern, the data showed that measles made a reappearance in Greece last year, with 1,027 cases recorded.

Other diseases showing a seasonal spike of over 100 cases in 2017 include malaria, salmonellosis, viral meningitis, bacterial meningitis, hepatitis A, and tuberculosis, along with flu and the measles.

With the exception of measles, most cases of salmonellosis were recorded in the region of Attica (45.3 percent of the total) and in Central Macedonia (12.3 percent). Similar trends were noted for tuberculosis, with 37.3 percent of incidences recorded in Attica and 16.3 percent recorded in Central Macedonia. Similarly, most bacterial meningitis cases were recorded in Attica and Central Macedonia, while most incidences of Hepatitis A were recorded in the Attica region.

In contrast, the greatest number of incidences of viral meningitis were noted in Thessaly and Crete.

Finally, most incidences of malaria were recorded in Attica, Central Greece, and the Peloponnese.